Q. I am from Larkana, Sindh. l am a flower-lover and I like to grow different kinds of flowers, as l get a great kick from watching them early in the morning, with fresh dew upon them. Recently, unexpectedly, the flowers have started to develop cracks in between the petals. The petals are in shreds. I am extremely worried about my flowers. The flowers are constantly withering despite much care. Could you please suggest a remedy?

A. The query you shared is incomplete. You should have mentioned the name, variety and type of flowers that you have grown. If you had added a photograph or two of the flowers in question, then it might have given me an idea about the issue your plant is facing and provided a better chance for me to suggest a remedy. The fertilisers being provided, watering schedule and recent pesticide usage should be mentioned as well. Without that information, I suppose the increased temperature prevailing in Larkana might be the real culprit. The flowers, fruits and leaves are highly likely to succumb under such scorching heatwaves. Covering the plants with green shade and nets while watering them regularly can go a long way in saving your flowers. Adding a handful of mulch to the soil will also help to retain moisture and provide the required nourishment to the plants.

Q. I am a kitchen gardener and recently grew a karela (bitter gourd) vine at my home in Karachi. The vine grew normally and started bearing flowers. As they started to produce the vegetable, some of the flowers turned into very small, immature yellow-coloured bitter gourds. Please see in the attached photographs the size and shape of the fruit. Kindly advise what should have been done in terms of providing fertiliser, or is there some other issue with this variety?

A. It is always very motivating to come across kitchen gardeners who are trying their best to grow their own organic produce. First of all, there is no need to panic. It is a normal occurrence that some of the fruit being grown may turn yellow and fall off the vine without maturing and turning into a complete fruit. What you have to do now is to ensure that you are providing the plant with the correct nutrients for this stage. Potassium-rich fertilisers are usually recommended at this stage, which should be supplied after every 10 to 15 days. Provide a green net coverage over the plant to save it from the sunlight-causing concerns. If there is a lack of natural pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, in your vicinity, then apply the hand-pollination techniques of rubbing the centre part of the male flower on the centre part of the female flower to ensure pollination. Irregular watering may also result in plant stress. Addressing these concerns would significantly reduce the number of yellow immature fruits on the vine.

Q. The new leaves growing on my lipstick plant are all folded and curled up. They are not straightening enough. What can be done in this regard?

A. It is very saddening to watch the photographs that you have shared of your plant. There can be a few reasons and I am jotting down each one. Although, comparatively, the plant is seldom hit by any pests, in this case, that might not entirely be true. It seems that your lipstick plant might likely be hit by thrips and mites. Other reasons for this stress may include any issue from irregular watering, temperature fluctuation to nutrient deficiency. If you can identify the core reason by looking at your plant deeply, you can easily chalk out the remedy for it as well.

Q. My gardener always advises to remove the dried flowers on the plant. Is it correct to do so?

A. There is nothing right or wrong about removing dried flowers. Removing and pruning the plant of dried flowers is a very common practice, also known as dead heading. Many gardeners firmly believe that doing so would ensure better energy provision to the rest of the plant. Otherwise, the plant would spend much of its energy trying to keep the flowers alive. On the other hand, sometimes, the dried flowers are deliberately left on the plant to harvest seeds at the end of the season.

Please send your queries and emails to doctree101@hotmail.com. The writer is a physician and a host for the YouTube channel ‘DocTree Gardening’ promoting organic kitchen gardening

Published in Dawn, EOS, June 29th, 2025